Tech, telecom prep for sea change

Retiring from Congress voluntarily are: Democratic Reps. Bart Gordon (Tenn.) and Bart Stupak (Mich.) as well as GOP Reps. John Shadegg (Ariz.), Steve Buyer (Ind.) and George Radanovich (Calif.). Those departures only complement a string of defeats to subcommittee members such as Democratic Reps. Zack Space (Ohio) and Baron Hill (Ind.); out West, Rep. Jerry McNerney (Calif.) was trailing early Wednesday morning.

Combined with those leaving the chamber in pursuit of Senate seats – Reps Charlie Melancon (D-La.), who lost, and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who won – the total number of subpanel members leaving the House could be an even dozen.

It isn't terribly unreasonable to surmise big changes are in store for a panel that will see a new Democratic leader, and could see a new GOP chairman if Stearns seeks a more plum assignment.

The Senate welcomes Richard Blumenthal: Blumenthal 's victory is one industry leaders are going to watch closely: The newly elected Democrat has spearheaded or participated in a number of investigations into top tech firms, including Google and Craigslist, as Connecticut’s attorney general.

"I think the tech industry needs to be prepared for scrutiny from him," said Kara Campbell, a GOP lobbyist for the Franklin Square Group. "He's as much said it, and I don't think it'll just be technology. . ."

Blumenthal has been the public face of a more than 30-state probe of Google, launched after news broke that its Street View cars accidentally collected user information while mapping out U.S. areas. He has also assisted with investigations into Craigslist's adult services section, Topix and the e-book industry.

A spokeswoman for the senator-elect's campaign told POLITICO in early August that Blumenthal planned to bring his aggressive approach to tech to Washington. "As attorney general, he has always stood up for the people of our state, and in the Senate, he will do the same," she said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, Jerry Brown fell tech CEO foes: Two hard-fought races out west sent two of the tech community's most prominent former business leaders packing Tuesday night: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) beat former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, and former Gov. Jerry Brown (D) won back his old job over former eBay CEO Meg Whitman.

Despite both losses, Guardino said Fiorina and Whitman did a bit of trailblazing for the tech community. "What is good for tech is that two former CEOs have the courage and conviction to run. That continues the strong maturation of the tech community and the innovation economy," he said.